Marathon updates, plus upcoming events

As of last week, 24,000 people had registered for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon, according to Susan Blackwood, executive director of San Antonio Sports Foundation. That’s a heck of a lot more than the 5,000 or so who have participated in previous San Antonio Marathons, before the race went musical. Organizers originally said they were expecting 20,000 runners and walkers.

You can still register. Online registration runs through Nov. 9. The fee is $110 for the marathon and $80 for the half-marathon until then. If space allows, you can also register at the Expo at the Alamodome Nov. 14-15, when the fees will be $125 for the marathon and $95 for the half-marathon.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars for these health and fitness events happening next weekend:

The second annual 3K Recovery Walk and Family Fun Day takes place at Brackenridge Park’s Koehler Pavilion on Sept. 27 in observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. The event is free and includes speakers, entertainment and lunch. KENS news anchor Karen Grace will open the day at 10:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 10:40. The event runs until 1:30 p.m. Register here or call (210) 271-7232 for more information.

Also on Sept. 27 is the Buddy Walk to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of San Antonio. Miss Fiesta Ashley Male and her sister Lindsey will lead the walk, which aims to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and raise money to fund the programs and services provided to adults and children with Down syndrome. The event runs 7 a.m.-noon on at the BG Johnson Track at Fort Sam Houston and includes entertainment and children’s activities. Registration runs 7-8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Register here or call (210) 349-4372.

People affected by diabetes — and there’s 80,000 of them in San Antonio, twice the national average — can learn more about the disease at the American Diabetes Association’s Por Tu Familia Confrencia, a free bilingual conference on diabetes 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Avenida Guadalupe Plaza and Progresso Center, 1327 Guadalupe St. The San Antonio Food Bank will demonstrate healthy cooking options. Medicare patients can be fitted for therapeutic shoes for free. This event targets Latinos between ages 35-65, but there will also be children’s activities for children. Call for more information: (210) 829-1765.